Alam ng SC yan! Sereno camp: Nothing wrong with buying Land Cruiser

The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday reiterated that the purchase of the Toyota Land Cruiser was aboveboard, saying it was approved by the Supreme Court en banc and complied with the budget department circular which prescribed the requirements.

“No less than the Supreme Court En Banc itself, in a Resolution dated March 28, 2017 in A.M. No. 17,-03-06-SC, approved the acquisition of the Land Cruiser for the price of P5,110,500,” Atty. Jojo Lacanilao said.

Lacanilano cited a circular from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allowing the country’s highest officials, like the Chief Justice, to use a service vehicle for security reasons.

“The Chief Justice did not ask to be exempted from the prohibition against the acquisition and use of security vehicles by government officials, as she was already exempted by virtue of her position,” Lacanilao said, citing Section 3.1 of DBM Administrative Order No. 233.

“Because of threats to her personal security, she had no choice but to acquire a vehicle that could be bulletproofed. It cannot be denied that judges, lawyers and prosecutors have been assassinated,” Lacanilao pointed out